Ball retrieval system

ABSTRACT

Golf balls indiscriminately distributed over the surface of a driving range are retrieved by arcuate upward displacement into a receptacle, being retrieved by an arcuately discontinuous transfer means moving in entrained relation to pick up the balls.

{45] June 10, 1975 United States Patent 1 Gamblin BALL RETRIEVAL SYSTEM[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS l,859,980 5/1932Mueller.............,............... 2,599,7l5 6/1952 1/1956 [22] Filed:

56/328 R Lepper............................ 56/328 R 2 729,046Patterson...................4.... 56/328 R Primary Examiner-Albert .l.Makay Attorney, Agent, or FirmD. Eggins Related U.S. Application Data[63] Continuation of Ser. No. 243,8l3, April 13, i972,

abandoned.

[57] ABSTRACT Golf balls indiscriminately distributed over the surface[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Apr. 26, 197i H308 of a drivingrange are retrieved by arcuate upward displacement into a receptacle,being retrieved by an arcuately discontinuous transfer means moving inentrained relation to pick up the balls.

0 m B1 0. 6 0 56 B I 4" H o C 8L Uh ll. 21 55 [.l.

[58] Field of Search 214/350, 353, 354, 355,

2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures BALL RETRIEVAL SYSTEM This is acontinuation. of application Ser. No. 243,8l3, filed Apr. l3. I972. nowabandoned.

This invention is directed to a method of recovering golf balls on adriving range, and to ball retrieving apparatus for carrying out themethod.

In the operation of golf driving ranges the efficient retrieval of golfballs poses a problem for which prior solutions have been limited intheir success.

Some of the problems encountered arise from the non-uniformity of theballs being retrieved which may be cut and of non-standard surfaceconditions, while the terrain of the range may vary widely. both incontour and surface condition, such that the passage of the ballretrieving device, and the lie of the ball on the ground may bedisadvantageous for ball retrieval.

The present invention provides a method of picking up golf balls fromthe ground, including the steps of positioning arcuately discontinuousball entraining means in close proximity to the ground, moving theentraining means against a golf ball to entrain the ball therewith,rotating the entraining means to raise the ball above the ground, andreleasing the ball into an elevated receptacle.

The present invention further provides a low cost durable apparatuspossessed of high retrieval efficiency.

An embodiment of the present invention provides peripherallydiscontinuous rotatable ball transfer or entrainment means to provide anarcuate path of transfer upwards from the ground; pivot means to securethe transfer means for passage over the ground in ball entrainingrelation therewith, and receiver means mounted above the ground in ballreceiving relation with the transfer means to receive golf ballstherefrom.

A further characteristic of one embodiment resides in a ball transfermeans including a cylinder having a plurality of resilient peg meansmounted in symmetrical spaced relation extending outwardly from thesurface thereof, the peg means having enlarged spherical head portionsto retain golf balls impressed therebetween, and a plurality of fingermeans extending between rows of the pegs to dislodge balls outwardlytherefrom.

In an alternative embodiment the transfer means includes an arcuatedeflector having a lower edge portion positioned to engage an underfaceof a grounded ball with the ball displacer means in radially spacedrelation with the deflector to entrain a ball for motion upwardlytherebetween for delivery to the receiver means.

Certain embodiments of the invention are described, reference being madeto the accompanying drawings wherein FIG. 1 is a general view of oneretrieving apparatus having a peg studded ball entraining cylinder;

FIG. 2 is a sectional side view of the FIG. I embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a similar view of a second embodiment having a brush type ballentrainer; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional side view of the FIG. 3 embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a view of a peg having a threaded portion in engagement with athreaded peg receiving means of the cylinder outer surface.

Referring to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS, 1 and 2, the retrieverhas a drum or rotor 12 having a plurality of rows of resilient pegs 14in mutually spaced relation whereby the enlarged spherical head portions16 combine to form a series of ball retaining receptacles. In theillustrated embodiment the rows of pegs 14 extend in axial alignmentalong the surface of the cylinder. whereby the cooperating pegs are inmultiples of four. By staggering adjacent rows of pegs cooperatingarrangements in threesomes are provided.

Also in FIG. I is illustrated an enlarged view ofa peg 14, showing thespherical head portion I6 and a base portion 18 having a means or groove20 by means of which the peg is attached to the cylinder portion of therotor 12, by insertion into holes or slots in the surface thereof. Theuse of a threaded nylon peg as shown in FIG. 5 has been found to behighly satisfactory. While possessing inherent resilience which may beselectively controlled to provide a desired degree of stiffness, theform of the peg also may be modified in cooperation with a resilientmounting in the drum face, to diminish local stresses when the pegdescends endwise on a pro truding fixed object.

A pair of end plates 26 carried by the rotor 12 on journals 28 support aball receptacle 30 having displacer plates 32, spaced along a peripheraledge thereof and extending between the adjacent rows of pegs, todisplace balls entrained between the pegs for passage into thereceptacle 30 see FIG. 2.

A handle 36, shown pivoted in a rearward direction serves to propel theapparatus, being normally latched in a forward extending direction bylatch means, not shown.

Referring to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, a brush-likerotor 40 serves to entrain balls, in cooperation with a curved guideplate 42 mounted in end plates 46 to which a ball receptacle 50 is alsoattached, having a cover 52 extending thereover. The guide plate 42 isadjustably secured at 54, 56 whereby the degree of ground clearance ofthe toe portion 58 may be adjusted.

While the positioning of the respective embodiments is illustrated withrelation to a handle, whereby the respective ball receptacles aremaintained in the desired configuration, the use of auxiliary wheelsspaced from the respective rotors, or the use of a pair of spaced rotorsis contemplated, having an intermediate framework therebetween.

While the rotor 40 is illustrated as being of a brushlike structure, theuse of axially extending ribs serving an equivalent function iscontemplated.

What is claimed is:

l. A ball retriever comprising: a rotor having a pair of ends and acylindrical outer surface, a plurality of peg receiving means in spacedrow array about the cylindrical outer surface for receiving a peg ineach said means, a plurality of resilient pegs, each of said pegsincluding an enlarged spherical head portion and a base portion, saidbase portion including means for mating with said peg receiving means,said base portion means comprising an endless groove and said receivingmeans comprising a slot for mating with said endless groove, a one ofsaid pegs mounted in mating relation in a one of said peg receivingmeans with said enlarged spherical head portion extending outwardly ofsaid cylindrical outer surface and forming a plurality of pockets, eachof said pockets being adapted for trapping a ball of predetermined sizein snug relation therein, a journal mounted centrally at each of saidrotor ends, a pair of end plates, one of said end plates carried by eachsaid journals, a ball receptacle carried by said end plates, said ballreceptacle including a plurality of displacer plates spaced along aperipheral edge of said ball receptacle and a one of said displacerplates between each of the adjacent rows of pegs proximate the topexcursion of said cylinder for directing trapped balls from within apocket to said ball receptacle, and means for propelling said ballretriever secured to said end plates.

2. A ball retriever comprising: a rotor having a pair of ends and acylindrical outer surface, a plurality of peg receiving means in spacedrow array about the cylindrical outer surface for receiving a peg ineach said means. a plurality of resilient pegs, each of said pegsincluding an enlarged spherical head portion and a base portion. saidbase portion including means for mating with said peg receiving means,said base portion means comprising a threaded portion, and saidreceiving means comprising a threaded opening for mating with saidthreaded portion of said base portion means, a one of said pegs mountedin mating relation in a one of said peg receiving means with saidenlarged spherical head portions extending outwardly of said cylindricalouter surface and forming a plurality of pockets. each of said pocketsbeing adapted for trapping a ball of predetermined size in snug relationtherein. a journal mounted centrally at each of said rotor ends, a pairof end plates, one of said end plates carried by each said journals, aball receptacle carried by said end plates, said ball receptacleincluding a plurality of displacer plates spaced along a peripheral edgeof said ball receptacle and a one of said displacer plates between eachof the adjacent rows of pegs proximate the top excursion of saidcylinder for directing trapped balls from within a pocket to said ballreceptacle, and means for propelling said ball retriever secured to saidend plates.

1. A ball retriever comprising: a rotor having a pair of ends and acylindrical outer surface, a plurality of peg receiving means in spacedrow array about the cylindrical outer surface for receiving a peg ineach said means, a plurality of resilient pegs, each of said pegsincluding an enlarged spherical head portion and a base portion, saidbase portion including means for mating with said peg receiving means,said base portion means comprising an endless groove and said receivingmeans comprising a slot for mating with said endless groove, a one ofsaid pegs mounted in mating relation in a one of said peg receivingmeans with said enlarged spherical head portion extending outwardly ofsaid cylindrical outer surface and forming a plurality of pockets, eachof said pockets being adapted for trapping a ball of predetermined sizein snug relation therein, a journal mounted centrally at each of saidrotor ends, a pair of end plates, one of said end plates carried by eachsaid journals, a ball receptacle carried by said end plates, said ballreceptacle including a plurality of displacer plates spaced along aperipheral edge of said ball receptacle and a one of said displacerplates between each of the adjacent rows of pegs proximate the topexcursion of said cylinder for directing trapped balls from within apocket to said ball receptacle, and means for propelling said ballretriever secured to said end plates.
 2. A ball retriever comprising: arotor having a pair of ends and a cylindrical outer surface, a pluralityof peg receiving means in spaced row array about the cylindrical outersurface for recEiving a peg in each said means, a plurality of resilientpegs, each of said pegs including an enlarged spherical head portion anda base portion, said base portion including means for mating with saidpeg receiving means, said base portion means comprising a threadedportion, and said receiving means comprising a threaded opening formating with said threaded portion of said base portion means, a one ofsaid pegs mounted in mating relation in a one of said peg receivingmeans with said enlarged spherical head portions extending outwardly ofsaid cylindrical outer surface and forming a plurality of pockets, eachof said pockets being adapted for trapping a ball of predetermined sizein snug relation therein, a journal mounted centrally at each of saidrotor ends, a pair of end plates, one of said end plates carried by eachsaid journals, a ball receptacle carried by said end plates, said ballreceptacle including a plurality of displacer plates spaced along aperipheral edge of said ball receptacle and a one of said displacerplates between each of the adjacent rows of pegs proximate the topexcursion of said cylinder for directing trapped balls from within apocket to said ball receptacle, and means for propelling said ballretriever secured to said end plates.